Asplenium .] 
FERNS. 
49 
2.— ASPLENIUM ALTERNIFOLIUM. 
ALTERNATE-LEAVED SPLEENWORT. 
(Plate IV, fig. 2.) 
Cha. — Leaf pinnate. Pinnae alternate, wedge-shaped, notched 
or trifid. 
Syn. — Asplenium alternifolium, Smith, Hook., Dicks., With., Galp., Jacq., 
— Asplenium germanicum, Willd., Hoffm., Ehrh., Lam., Weis., Gray , Bab., 
Moore. — Phyllitis heterophylla, Moench. — Scolopendrium alternifolium, 
Roth. — Asplenium Breynii, Retz. — Amesium germanicum, Newm. 1854. 
Fig. — E. B. 2258. — Jacg. Misc. t. 5, f. 2. — Breyn. Cent. 1, t. 91. — Neivm. 
p. 258 (1854). 
Des. — Leaf from 1 to 3 inches high, very light green, upright, 
delicate, about half covered with pinnae, which are alternate and 
wedge-shaped ; the larger partly three-cleft, the smaller bluntly 
notched at the end only. Leaf-stallc dark at the base only. Sori 
two to four on each pinna, small, light brown, becoming confluent, 
but not occupying the whole under surface. Indusium entire on 
the margin. 
This species is intermediate between the last and Asplenium Ruta-muraria, 
although of a more delicate and erect habit than either ; its colour also is much 
lighter, and its sori smaller and less confluent. When once seen it cannot possibly 
be mistaken for any of the numerous casual forms of Asplepium Ruta-muraria. 
The plants sold under this name in the nurseries around London are the true 
species derived from some plants brought wild from Scotland, about fourteen 
years ago, and given to the Countess de Vande, at Bayswater, and from her 
garden distributed around. It quite retains its character in cultivation. 
Hab. — Found originally by Mr. Dickson on rocks in the south of Scotland, 
two miles from Kelso, on the Tweed. Now existing at Dunkeld, in Perthshire, 
Mr. Bishop and Dr. Macnab. Very sparingly near Dunfermline, Fifesliire, 
Dr. Dewar. 
Geo. — Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland, where it is quite an alpine plant. 
3.— ASPLENIUM RUTA-MURARIA. 
WALL RUE. RUE-LEAVED SPLEENWORT. TENTW r ORT. 
(Plate IY, fig. 3.) 
Cila. — L eaf bipinnate. Pinnae alternate. Pinnules ovate or 
wedge-shaped, with rounded notched extremities. 
Syn. — Asplenium Ruta-muraria, Linn., Willd., Hook., Smith, Bolt., Bull., 
Ehrh., Huds., With., Galp., Lightf . — Asplenium murale, Bemh., Gray . — 
Scolopendrium Ruta-muraria, Roth . — Phyllitis Ruta-muraria, Moench . — 
Ruta-muraria, Bau., Ray, Ger., Plum., Neivm. 
Fig. E. B. 150. — Bolt. 16. — FI. Dan. 190. — Bull. Fr. 195. — Plum. Fil. 
t. a,/. 3. — Newm. Brit. Ferns, p. 253 (1854). 
Des. — Rootstock tufted, black, very long. Leaf from 1 to 4 inches 
